Cutting into the interior lid of a chest freezer

[TheDarkSide]

My kegerator is a GE 7.2 cu ft chest freezer. I built a 2 x 6 collar on it in hope to be able to use the hump for additional corny kegs. My corny's measure 25" in height exactly. I put the corny on the hump and the lid doesn't completely close. If I push down on it, it closes completely. I'd estimate I'm off by 1/2". With the disconnects connnected, it is a higher but I was hoping to use this area to lager a couple kegs since 4 other kegs can sit in the main part.

Has anyone with this freezer ever cut into the interior of the lid to provide headspace for kegs on the hump? There are no coils in the lid so I assume it is just insulation. The plastic on the inside does give when I push up on it by about 1-1 1/2".

Here's a couple pictures:

[BeerPal]

Why fuck up a perfectly good chest freezer? Just bite the bullet and build a taller collar.

[11amas]

You can even keep your current collar and just put some additional wood around it, maybe get some nice 1"X1" hardwood, if you need more than 1" (or 3/4" if 1" is really 3/4") then put a strip of 1x1 around the top and bottom of the existing collar, it would probably look nice.

[Bugeater]

My collar is made from ordinary 2X6's but I then covered that with a nice stained poplar 1X10 to make it look good and also help keep the collar from sliding off. With this construction it would be real easy to stick a 1X2 or 2X2 underneath the 2X6 where it would never be seen, yet give you all the height you need.

The 1X10 also gives me enough room below my taps to put a shelf to hold my drip tray.

Wayne

[siwelwerd]

I think Bug has the right idea here (and not just because that's exactly what my collar looks like ).

If you're set on your idea though, you should be safe. The only stuff up there is insulation, and maybe a cord for the light if there is one.

[lunchbox]

I cut through mine with no problems. Insulation was all that's in mine. As for fucking up a perfectly good chest freezer... eh, I was building a sweet fucking kegerator.

[bcmaui]

I see no problem cutting a hole in the lid as long as you make an attempt to insulate it and keep critters from coming in.

I am contemplating cutting a hole in the lid to make a coffin box on top and create some counter space as well in lieu of having the taps mounted to the collar.

Similar to this:



Or this I want to use an off the shelf item - these are pricey though.



You need to provide an airspace between the wood and the metal of the chest freezer so the exterior of the chest freezer can expel the heat (and the back remains open), but is a nice clean look.

For the moment I have no collar at all - just some perlick faucets laying inside old 2 gallon ice cream buckets inside the chest freezer.

[alan_marks]

What about a collar of some type of gasket or seal arount the lid to raise the height? If I'm following this correctly, you only need a smooch more clearance. A gasket below and above the collar might do it for you.

HTH,
Alan